I’ve been eating at Kam Shing with my family for as long as I can remember. To be honest, this popular Chinese restaurant is a hit or miss. The food isn’t consistent, service can be slow at times and waiters aren’t always friendly. In spite of all that, we gather here to celebrate birthdays, special occasions and sometimes just to spend quality time with each other.

Beef and Chinese Broccoli is a simple dish my dad can’t get enough of. The beef is sliced thinly and sautéed until all sides are browned. Usually it’s very juicy and tender. When prepared al dente, the Chinese broccoli emanates a vibrant and attractive shade of green, and creates a nice crunch when you bite into it. Generally, this minimal dish doesn’t disappoint, however on an off-day it might be too salty or the meat can be slightly undercooked.

I mostly avoid requesting shrimp dishes because most restaurants tend to hold back on the goods. But, today I decided against it, today was a shellfish kind of day. As expected, when my order of Shrimps in Lobster Sauce got to the table, only a few pieces were scattered in a sea of sauce. I disregarded the MSG-loaded lobster sauce, which included everything but actual lobster, picked out the shrimps and ate them whole in mere minutes.

Fried Noodles Cantonese Style is something we consume at every visit. When made properly, it becomes one of the highlights of the meal. A saucy stir-fry of several meats, seafood and vegetables rests on top of a bed of crisp golden fried noodles. The noodles get soggy if you wait too long to eat, so make sure to scoff it down as soon as it gets to the table!

Peking Duck is undoubtedly one of their best features and my favorite item on the menu. The duck meat and skin (fatty but so delicious) are cut into strips and topped with fine strings of green onion. Thin circular pancakes and a small bowl of hoisin sauce are subsequently set before you. Pickled vegetables sprinkled with sesame seeds are not included, but make sure to order them on the side; they’re totally worth it. Before indulging in this dish, you have to assemble it yourself. Place a pancake on your plate, spread some hoisin sauce over it, and top it with duck meat, skin, green onions and pickled vegetables. Once that’s done, fold the outer edges and enjoy!

Kam Shing doesn’t cook up best Chinese food in the city, but on a good day with good company it proves to be quite satisfying. This place is written in my family history, and despite all its flaws I’m sure I’ll be keeping the tradition alive.

Reader Comments (1)

Great place been going for years too , food always consistent , staff is slow but that is normal there , I prefer the Van Horne location over Cote des Neiges one. MY favorite is the General Tao Chicken and Hot and Sour Soup